Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Pepperstone vs ACY Securities, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 51% and 89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Pepperstone and ACY Securities are both established names in the online brokerage world, founded in 2010 and 2011, respectively. While neither company is publicly traded or operates as a bank, they differ significantly in their regulatory standings. Pepperstone shines with three Tier-1 licenses and two Tier-2 licenses, making it a highly trusted broker with a commendable Trust Score of 95 from ForexBrokers.com. This indicates an excellent reputation for reliability and security within the financial industry.
On the other hand, ACY Securities holds one Tier-1 license and lacks any Tier-2 licenses, reflecting a more modest Trust Score of 75, which denotes an average risk level. While both brokers offer online trading services, Pepperstone's greater number of regulatory licenses makes it the more trusted choice for investors who prioritize security and peace of mind when trading. Understanding these differences can guide traders in choosing the platform that best aligns with their trust and trading requirements.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2010 | 2011 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
Pepperstone and ACY Securities are both well-regarded online brokers, offering different benefits in terms of commissions and fees. Pepperstone excels with its Razor Account, which features a commission-based pricing structure plus low spreads, making it a strong option for high-volume traders. The average spread for EUR/USD was 0.10 pips (as of July 2024), with an all-in cost of 0.80 pips after factoring in a commission-equivalent of 0.70 pips. Pepperstone also offers an Active Trader program that provides rebates, especially beneficial for clients in the UK and Australia who meet trading volume requirements. However, their Standard account, while commission-free, features wider spreads at an average of 1.1 pips on the EUR/USD, making it less cost-effective overall. Pepperstone boasts a 4.5-star rating and is ranked #10 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com for commissions and fees.
In comparison, ACY Securities offers a diverse range of accounts to match varying trader preferences, including low-deposit, commission-free, and commission-based options. Their Standard account is commission-free and has an average spread of 1.2 pips on the EUR/USD, but requires only a $50 deposit. Meanwhile, their ProZero account offers more competitive spreads, averaging 0.25 pips, though it comes with a commission of $6 per round turn, which drops to $3 for Australian residents. The Bespoke account further reduces costs with a $5 commission per round turn. Like Pepperstone, ACY Securities also implements a tiered active trader program lowering costs by 0.5 pips per lot for higher trading volumes. ACY Securities is similarly rated at 4.5 stars but takes the #21 spot out of 63 brokers in the same category by ForexBrokers.com.
Ultimately, both Pepperstone and ACY Securities provide attractive offerings for different types of traders. Pepperstone is ideal for high-volume traders benefiting from the Razor Account's low spreads and commission rebate program, whereas ACY Securities presents more accessible options for smaller traders with its low-deposit accounts and competitive ProZero pricing. Both brokers earn high marks for their pricing structures, making them worthy of consideration based on individual trading needs and residency.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $50 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.00 | 1.2 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.70 | 0.85 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When it comes to the variety of investments available, both Pepperstone and ACY Securities provide impressive options for traders. Pepperstone offers 1,726 tradeable symbols, while ACY Securities surpasses this with 2,200 symbols. In terms of forex trading, both brokers offer CFDs or spot contracts, with Pepperstone providing 65 tradeable forex pairs as compared to ACY Securities, which offers 66. Neither broker provides exchange-traded securities on U.S. or international exchanges, meaning clients cannot directly purchase stocks like Apple or Vodafone. However, both platforms support copy trading, enabling users to replicate the trades of successful investors.
For cryptocurrency enthusiasts, neither Pepperstone nor ACY Securities permits the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies, but both allow trading in cryptocurrency derivatives. Reflecting their substantial offerings, both brokers received a rating of 4 stars for Range of Investments. According to ForexBrokers.com, Pepperstone is ranked 26th, slightly ahead of ACY Securities, which sits at 30th out of 63 brokers in this category. This positions both companies as strong contenders for investors looking for a wide array of investment options.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1726 | 2200 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 66 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | Yes | Yes |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
The comparison between online brokers Pepperstone and ACY Securities reveals that both offer extensive options for traders when it comes to platforms and tools. Both brokers provide virtual demo accounts, proprietary platforms, and Windows-based desktop downloads, ensuring that traders of all skill levels have the resources they need. They also support popular platforms like MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), and offer web-based trading options for convenience. Moreover, both brokers facilitate copy trading, though Pepperstone has a slight advantage with DupliTrade support, a feature not available with ACY Securities.
When it comes to charting tools, Pepperstone offers more drawing tools, totaling 30, compared to ACY Securities' 15. However, both brokers allow trading directly from stock charts and provide 7 columns for watch lists. In terms of user experience judgments from ForexBrokers.com, Pepperstone is ranked 22nd out of 63 brokers, while ACY Securities holds the 41st position in the Trading Platforms and Tools category. Despite differences in specific features and rankings, both brokers receive a solid 4-star rating, indicating reliable and comprehensive services for traders.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| DupliTrade | Yes | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 15 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 30 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Pepperstone and ACY Securities both provide iPhone and Android apps, making them accessible for mobile traders on popular platforms. Both brokers support stock or forex price alerts and offer comprehensive charting tools with 30 technical studies each, allowing users to draw trendlines and view charts in multiple time frames. Both apps also allow you to create watchlists with real-time quotes and automatically save drawings on charts. However, Pepperstone has an edge with watchlist symbol syncing, which ACY Securities does not offer, allowing seamless updates between mobile and online accounts for Pepperstone users.
When it comes to user ratings, both Pepperstone and ACY Securities score 4 out of 5 stars for their mobile trading apps. Yet, in a field of 63 brokers analyzed by ForexBrokers.com, Pepperstone ranks higher at 21st place, compared to ACY Securities at 40th. This higher ranking suggests a slightly better overall user experience with Pepperstone's mobile offerings. If seamless syncing and industry rankings matter to you, Pepperstone might be the better choice between the two.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Pepperstone and ACY Securities both offer daily market commentary and provide economic calendars for traders to stay updated on global news events. However, Pepperstone pulls ahead by offering forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, which ACY Securities lacks. Additionally, Pepperstone provides cutting-edge technical analysis tools from Autochartist and a sentiment-based trading tool, giving traders valuable insights into market trends and positioning. In contrast, ACY Securities does not offer these advanced research tools, which might limit the depth of analysis available to their users.
Despite both brokers not utilizing Trading Central, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading research tools, Pepperstone is rated higher in the research category with 4.5 stars compared to ACY Securities' 3.5 stars. This higher rating reflects Pepperstone’s superior research capabilities. Moreover, Pepperstone is ranked 12th out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com in the research category, whereas ACY Securities is ranked 45th, highlighting the considerable difference in their research offerings for traders seeking in-depth market insights.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to educational resources for beginners, both Pepperstone and ACY Securities offer a foundation for those diving into forex or CFDs. Each provides over 10 educational pieces, which include articles, videos, and archived webinars, tailored to enhance learning. Additionally, both platforms host online educational webinars each month and maintain a searchable archive of past sessions, making it easy for users to revisit topics at their convenience.
However, a deeper dive reveals some noteworthy differences. Beginner traders will find that Pepperstone excels in offering both beginner and advanced educational videos, with at least 10 videos dedicated to each. Furthermore, Pepperstone stands out with a comprehensive investor dictionary explaining over 50 investing terms. In comparison, ACY Securities offers a more limited selection, not meeting Pepperstone's offerings in advanced educational content and lacking a broad investor dictionary. This is reflected in their ratings, with Pepperstone receiving 4.5 stars for its educational services, ranking 17th out of 63 brokers, while ACY Securities earns a 3.5-star rating and ranks 43rd. Overall, Pepperstone presents a more comprehensive educational experience for traders.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Pepperstone is better than ACY Securities. Pepperstone finished with an overall rank of #16, while ACY Securities finished with an overall rank of #41.
Pepperstone offers a growing range of tradeable markets, good-quality research, and support for multiple social copy trading platforms.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
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ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 75 |
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Both Pepperstone and ACY Securities offer the ability to buy cryptocurrency derivatives but do not provide options for purchasing actual delivered cryptocurrency.
When comparing online brokers Pepperstone and ACY Securities, both offer ACH or SEPA transfers, Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires for depositing or withdrawing funds; however, only Pepperstone provides PayPal as an additional payment method.
Please note:
We review each broker’s overall global offering – a “Yes” checkmark in our Compare Tool does not guarantee the availability of any specific features in your country of residence. To verify the availability of any features within your country of residence, please contact the broker directly.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Pepperstone | ACY Securities | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 75 | |
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| Review | Pepperstone Review | ACY Securities Review |
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| Regulation | Pepperstone | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 95 | 75 | |
| Year Founded | 2010 | 2011 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Pepperstone | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Pepperstone | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Pepperstone | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1726 | 2200 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 66 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | Yes | Yes | |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
| Cost | Pepperstone | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.00 | 1.2 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.70 | 0.85 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | No |
| Funding | Pepperstone | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Pepperstone | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | Yes | No | |
| DupliTrade | Yes | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Pepperstone | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 15 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 30 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Pepperstone | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | Pepperstone | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Pepperstone | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | Pepperstone | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | Pepperstone Review | ACY Securities Review |
| Overall | Pepperstone | ACY Securities | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 75 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Pepperstone Review | ACY Securities Review |
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